慢性乙型肝炎肝星状细胞形态改变与肝脏微循环障碍的关系

目的研究慢性乙型肝炎肝星状细胞形态改变与肝脏微循环障碍的关系。方法采用光镜观察肝星状细胞内脂滴数和体密度的变化,同时采用透射电镜观察肝星状细胞超微结构的变化和肝窦微循环结构的改变。结果慢性乙型肝炎肝星状内脂滴数减少,典型肝星状细胞数量减少,过渡型肝星状细胞数量增多,超微结构显示核被膜表面不规则,胞质内粗面内质网明显增多,多扩张,内有中等电子密度的絮状物质,高尔基复合体发达,细胞周围胶原原纤维量明显增多。肝窦内皮细胞窗孔减少变小,有的肝窦内皮细胞内出现WP（Weibel—Paladebody）小体。狄氏腔中胶原纤维沉积增多,肝窦内皮细胞下有基底膜形成。结论肝星状细胞激活后形态改变是肝脏微循环障碍的重要促进因素。     

锌对缺血／再灌注肝脏自由基含量和细胞凋亡的影响

目的：观察补锌对缺血再灌注（HIR）大鼠肝脏自由基含量及细胞凋亡的影响。探讨补锌保护肝损伤的机制。方法：用荧光分光光度法测定血清MDA含量;用电子自旋共振法测定肝脏自由基浓度;用流式细胞术检测肝细胞凋亡。结果：HIR组大鼠血清MDA水平和肝自由基产生均增加,补锌后降低;肝脏缺血再灌注后肝细胞凋亡率达到57.72%,补锌后降低40.85%。结论：减少自由基产生和抑制细胞凋亡是锌保护肝缺血再灌注损伤的重要机制。     

慢性重度乙型肝炎患者肝组织中NF-κ Bp65和Caspase-3的表达及其意义

目的:探讨慢性重度乙型肝炎患者肝组织中NF-κBp65和Caspase-3的表达及其意义.方法:选择慢性重度乙型肝炎肝组织标本68例(慢重肝组),正常肝组织标本20例(对照组).采用免疫组化方法检测肝组织中NF-κBp65和Caspase-3的表达.结果:慢重肝组患者肝组织中NF-κBp65和Caspase-3阳性表达程度均明显强于对照组(P＜0.05);慢重肝患者死亡组肝组织中NF-κBp65和Caspase-3阳性表达程度均明显强于存活组(P＜0.05).Spearman相关分析发现,慢重肝组患者肝组织中NF-κBp65和Caspase-3表达之间有明显的正相关性(r=0.449,P＜0.05).结论:NF-κBp65和Caspase-3可能参与了慢性重度乙型肝炎的肝细胞凋亡过程,且具有一定相关性,并对判断患者预后有重要临床价值.     

胎鼠肝脏发育过程中肝窦的形成与成熟

为了研究胎鼠肝脏发育过程中肝窦的形成与成熟,用窦内皮细胞表达的一种特异性抗原,SE-S,作为窦内皮细胞表型成熟的标志,通过免疫组织化学和免疫电镜来观察肝脏发育的不同时期该抗原的表达以及与先存大血管的关系。实验证明,在胎龄15天时,即可观察到散在的肝窦样结构呈现阳性反应,而表达第八因子相关抗原的大血管为阴性。随着肝脏的发育,表达SE-S抗原的肝窦在数量和长度上亦随之增加,并且与肝细胞直接或密切接触。结果提示,肝窦的形成与成熟似乎是随机发生的,可能始于胚胎发育的第15天或更早,与先存大血管无直接相关性;肝细胞可能调节窦内皮细胞的成熟(SE-S抗原的表达)。     

沙漠干热环境腹部肠管火器伤后肝脏COX-2的表达与肝细胞凋亡的关系研究

目的：探讨沙漠干热环境下猪腹部肠管火器伤后肝脏环氧化酶-2（COX-2）的表达与肝细胞凋亡之间的关系。方法：沙漠干热环境组和常温环境组各42头长白仔猪随机等分为对照组和伤后1h、2h、4h、8h、12h和24h组7个时间组,实验各组在建立腹部肠管火器伤模型后,用免疫组化图像分析法测定各组肝组织COX-2的表达,采用TUNEL法观察肝细胞凋亡情况,并检测血清ALT的变化。结果：沙漠干热环境组和常温环境组中各实验组COX-2表达水平及肝细胞凋亡率均明显高于对照组（P〈0．01）;在沙漠干热环境组,各实验组肝脏COX-2表达水平明显高于相对应的常温组（P〈0．01）,肝细胞凋亡率在1h、2h、4h、8h明显高于相对应的常温组（P〈0．05或P〈0．01）;肝脏COX-2的表达水平和肝细胞凋亡率在沙漠干热环境组和常温组中的第1个高峰值均出现在伤后2h组,沙漠干热环境组的第2个高峰值出现在伤后8h组,而常温环境组的第2个高峰出现在伤后12h组;血清ALT的变化趋势与COX-2的表达及细胞凋亡的趋势相似,肝脏COX-2表达水平和肝细胞凋亡率在沙漠干热环境组和常温环境组均具有相关性,相关系数分别为0．973和0．945,（P〈0．01）。结论：沙漠干热环境腹部肠管火器伤后肝脏COX-2的水平明显高于常温组,COX-2的表达与肝细胞凋亡的变化趋势一致,且密切相关,提示在沙漠干热环境腹部肠管火器伤后COX-2可能通过促进肝细胞凋亡在继发性肝脏损害过程中起重要作用。     

沙漠干热环境腹部肠管火器伤后肝脏COX-2 的表达与肝细胞凋亡 的关系研究

目的:探讨沙漠干热环境下猪腹部肠管火器伤后肝脏环氧化酶-2(COX-2)的表达与肝细胞凋亡之间的关系。方法:沙漠干热环境组和常温环境组各42头长白仔猪随机等分为对照组和伤后1h、2h、4h、8h、12h和24h组7个时间组,实验各组在建立腹部肠管火器伤模型后,用免疫组化图像分析法测定各组肝组织COX-2的表达,采用TUNEL法观察肝细胞凋亡情况,并检测血清ALT的变化。结果:沙漠干热环境组和常温环境组中各实验组COX-2表达水平及肝细胞凋亡率均明显高于对照组(P<0.01);在沙漠干热环境组,各实验组肝脏COX-2表达水平明显高于相对应的常温组(P<0.01),肝细胞凋亡率在1h、2h、4h、8h明显高于相对应的常温组(P<0.05或P<0.01);肝脏COX-2的表达水平和肝细胞凋亡率在沙漠干热环境组和常温组中的第1个高峰值均出现在伤后2h组,沙漠干热环境组的第2个高峰值出现在伤后8h组,而常温环境组的第2个高峰出现在伤后12h组;血清ALT的变化趋势与COX-2的表达及细胞凋亡的趋势相似,肝脏COX-2表达水平和肝细胞凋亡率在沙漠干热环境组和常温环境组均具有相关性,相关系数分别为0.973和0.945,(P<0.01)。结论:沙漠干热环境腹部肠管火器伤后肝脏COX-2的水平明显高于常温组,COX-2的表达与肝细胞凋亡的变化趋势一致,且密切相关,提示在沙漠干热环境腹部肠管火器伤后COX-2可能通过促进肝细胞凋亡在继发性肝脏损害过程中起重要作用。     

安南龟肝脏和肾脏的组织学观察

采用常规石蜡切片对安南龟的肝脏和肾脏进行了组织学观察。研究结果发现,肝脏分为3叶,肝实质内结缔组织少。肝脏由无数肝小叶构成,肝小叶分界不清。肝细胞为多角形的腺上皮细胞,细胞核圆球形,位于中央。胆小管沿着肝细胞索向肝小叶四周放射并连成细长的微细管道。肾脏由肾小体、颈段、近曲小管、中间段、远曲小管和收集管6部分构成,肾小体由肾小球和肾小囊组成,在肾小体附近可见致密斑样结构,未见髓袢结构。肾小球由盘曲的毛细血管构成。肾小囊是肾小管的起始端,由内、外两层壁层构成,内层与肾小球的毛细血管紧贴,外层为单层扁平上皮细胞。     

慢性重度乙型肝炎患者肝组织中NF-κBp65和Caspase-3的表达及其意义

目的：探讨慢性重度乙型肝炎患者肝组织中NF-κBp65和Caspase-3的表达及其意义。方法：选择慢性重度乙型肝炎肝组织标本68例（慢重肝组）,正常肝组织标本20例（对照组）。采用免疫组化方法检测肝组织中NF-κBp65和Caspase-3的表达。结果：慢重肝组患者肝组织中NF-κBp65和Caspase．3阳性表达程度均明显强于对照组（P〈0．05）;慢重肝患者死亡组肝组织中NF-κBp65和Caspase．3阳性表达程度均明显强于存活组（P〈O．05）。Spearman相关分析发现,慢重肝组患者肝组织中NF-κBp65和Caspase-3表达之间有明显的正相关性（r=0．449,P〈0．05）。结论：NF-κBp65和Caspase-3可能参与了慢性重度乙型肝炎的肝细胞凋亡过程,且具有一定相关性,并对判断患者预后有重要临床价值。     

应用原位杂交及免疫组化检测肝活检组织中流行性出血热病毒RNA及抗原

本文应用原位杂交及免疫组化技术对25例流行性出血热(EHF)患者肝活检组织进行了病毒RNA及其囊膜G_2蛋白的定位检测,结合光镜,认为肝细胞的变性、胞浆疏松化、点状坏死是EHF病毒直接侵犯并在其胞浆内增殖表达所致,肝组织的灶状坏死则主要是肝窦狭窄、枯否氏细胞增生导致微循环障碍引起的缺血性梗死。急性脂褐素沉积是病毒侵犯肝细胞的间接证据。研究还发现,肝细胞内病毒的多少与病程关系不明确,而与临床分型有一定相关,为探讨EHF的发病机制提供了分子水平的依据。     

东方蝾螈肝脏形态学与组织学观察

对东方蝾螈Synops orientalis的肝脏进行了组织学观察.结果 如下:东方蝾螈肝脏分为5叶,每叶由许多肝小叶组成.中央静脉位于小叶中央,肝细胞排列成肝细胞索(肝板),以中央静脉为中心向周围呈放射状排列.肝细胞索或肝细胞团之间的间隙为形状不规则、大小不等的肝血窦,窦壁由一层内皮细胞构成,间有枯否氏细胞,其核为细长状,有数目不等突起.肝细胞间有狄氏间隙,肝细胞呈多边形,胞核为圆形或卵圆形.肝实质内有大量色素沉着.并将东方蝾螈肝脏和其他动物肝脏进行了比较.     

Experimental modulation of apoptosis: physiopathological and therapeutic targets

In the liver, the importance of apoptosis is not only evident during development and homeostasis of the biliary tree but plays also a prominent role in liver pathogenesis. Ligand binding to cell surface death receptors such as Fas activates the extrinsic pathway. This pathway predominates in autoimmune liver diseases, viral hepatitis, liver allograft rejection. Hepatocyte apoptosis is also significantly increased in patients with alcoholic hepatitis and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and correlates with disease severity and hepatic fibrosis. We have used this specific susceptibility of the liver to apoptosis to develop two different approaches: 1) a cell therapy strategy based on a survival advantage to an apoptotic stimulus conferred to transplanted hepatocytes and 2) a new model of hepatocyte conditional ablation based on a controlled activation of the cell death program.     

MicroRNA‐194 protects against chronic hepatitis B‐related liver damage by promoting hepatocyte growth via ACVR2B

Persistent infection with the hepatitis B virus leads to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in a variety of biological processes; however, the role of miRNAs in chronic hepatitis B (CHB)‐induced liver damage remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated the role of miRNAs in CHB‐related liver damage. Microarray analysis of the expression of miRNAs in 22 CHB patients and 33 healthy individuals identified miR‐194 as one of six differentially expressed miRNAs. miR‐194 was up‐regulated in correlation with increased liver damage in the plasma or liver tissues of CHB patients. In mice subjected to 2/3 partial hepatectomy, miR‐194 was up‐regulated in liver tissues in correlation with hepatocyte growth and in parallel with the down‐regulation of the activin receptor ACVR2B. Overexpression of miR‐194 in human liver HL7702 cells down‐regulated ACVR2B mRNA and protein expression, promoted cell proliferation, acceleratedG1 to S cell cycle transition, and inhibited apoptosis, whereas knockdown of miR‐194 had the opposite effects. Luciferase reporter assays confirmed that ACVR2B is a direct target of miR‐194, and overexpression of ACVR2B significantly repressed cell proliferation and G1 to S phase transition and induced cell apoptosis. ACVR2B overexpression abolished the effect of miR‐194, indicating that miR‐194 promotes hepatocyte proliferation and inhibits apoptosis by down‐regulating ACVR2B. Taken together, these results indicate that miR‐194 plays a crucial role in hepatocyte proliferation and liver regeneration by targeting ACVR2B and may represent a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of CHB‐related liver damage.     

Apoptosis and apoptosis related proteins in chronic viral liver disease

Background: Apoptosis may be an important mechanism of hepatocyte death in chronic viral liver disease. Methods: We studied apoptosis in liver biopsies from 30 patients with chronic viral hepatitis and 8 patients with viral cirrhosis by the TUNEL method. 12 cases of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and 12 cases of primary biliary cirrhosis were used as non-viral disease controls. Immunohistochemical expression of p53, p21/waf1, bcl-2 and mdm-2 proteins was also studied in the same patients. Results: A statistically significant increase of apoptotic liver cells was found in severe chronic viral hepatitis (5.3 ± 0.3%), cirrhosis (3.4 ± 0.5%) and PBC (4.4 ± 0.4%) cases compared to patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (0.8 ± 0.3%). The expression of p53 protein was increased in the cases of viral cirrhosis and in chronic severe viral hepatitis whereas in the cases of chronic mild hepatitis, PBC and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis we found no expression of p53. P21/waf1 expression was increased in severe chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and PBC cases compared to mild hepatitis and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis cases. However no induction of mdm-2 was observed in the subgroups of chronic liver disease. Bcl-2 was expressed only in epithelium of bile ducts and mononuclear cells of the portal tracts and liver lobules. A weaker Bcl-2 expression was noted in the epithelium of bile ducts of 7/12 PBC cases. Conclusion: Our results provide evidence of increased apoptosis in severe chronic viral liver disease, suggesting that apoptotic cell death might be involved in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular damage of viral hepatitis and cirrhosis. Furthermore we analysed part of the apoptotic pathways implicated in the above process and found an increased expression of p21/waf1, probably p53 mediated, without overexpression of the apoptosis inhibiting bcl-2 and mdm-2 proteins. By contrast p21/waf1 overexpression in PBC seems to be propagated by a p53 independent mechanism.     

Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection: The Relation between Hepatitis B Antigen Expression,Telomere Length,Senescence, Inflammation and Fibrosis

BackgroundChronic Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection can lead to the development of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. We hypothesized that HBV might accelerate hepatocyte ageing and investigated the effect of HBV on hepatocyte cell cycle state and biological age. We also investigated the relation between inflammation, fibrosis and cell cycle phase.MethodsLiver samples from patients with chronic HBV (n = 91), normal liver (n = 55) and regenerating liver (n = 15) were studied. Immunohistochemistry for cell cycle phase markers and HBV antigens was used to determine host cell cycle phase. Hepatocyte-specific telomere length was evaluated by quantitative fluorescent in-situ hybridization (Q-FISH) in conjunction with hepatocyte nuclear area and HBV antigen expression. The effects of induced cell cycle arrest and induced cellular senescence on HBV production were assessed in vitro.Results13.7% hepatocytes in chronic HBV had entered cell cycle, but expression of markers for S, G2 and M phase was low compared with regenerating liver. Hepatocyte p21 expression was increased (10.9%) in chronic HBV and correlated with liver fibrosis. Mean telomere length was reduced in chronic HBV compared to normal. However, within HBV-affected livers, hepatocytes expressing HBV antigens had longer telomeres. Telomere length declined and hepatocyte nuclear size increased as HBV core antigen (HBcAg) expression shifted from the nucleus to cytoplasm. Nuclear co-expression of HBcAg and p21 was not observed. Cell cycle arrest induced in vitro was associated with increased HBV production, in contrast to
in vitro induction of cellular senescence, which had no effect.ConclusionChronic HBV infection was associated with hepatocyte G1 cell cycle arrest and accelerated hepatocyte ageing, implying that HBV induced cellular senescence. However, HBV replication was confined to biologically younger hepatocytes. Changes in the cellular location of HBcAg may be related to the onset of cellular senescence.     

NKP30-B7-H6 Interaction Aggravates Hepatocyte Damage through Up-Regulation of Interleukin-32 Expression in Hepatitis B Virus-Related Acute-On-Chronic Liver Failure

Background and Aims

Previous work conducted by our group has shown that the accumulation of hepatic natural killer (NK) cells and the up-regulation of natural cytotoxicity receptors (NKP30 and NKP46) on NK cells from patients with hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF) were correlated with disease progression in HBV-ACLF. The natural cytotoxicity receptors expressed on NK cells are believed to be probable candidates involved in the NK cell-mediated hepatocyte damage in HBV-ACLF. However, the underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated. In the present study, we aimed to discover the role of NKP30-B7-H6 interaction in NK cells-mediated hepatocyte damage in HBV-ACLF.

Methods

Hepatic expressions of B7-H6 and interleukin-32 (IL-32) were examined by immunochemistry staining in samples from patients with HBV-ACLF or mild chronic hepatitis B (CHB). The cytotoxicity of NK-92 cell against target cells (Huh-7 and LO2) was evaluated by CCK8 assay. Expression of IL-32 in liver NK cell, T cells and NK-92 cell line was detected by the flow cytometric analysis. The effect of IL-32 on the apoptosis of Huh7 cells was evaluated using Annexin V/PI staining analysis.

Results

An enhancement of hepatic B7-H6 and IL-32 expression was associated with the severity of liver injury in HBV-ACLF. And there was a positive association between hepatic B7-H6 and IL-32 expression. Expressions of IL-32 in liver NK cells and T cells were increased in HBV-ACLF patients. In vitro NK-92 cells are highly capable of killing the high B7-H6 expressing Huh7 cells and B7-H6-tansfected hepatocyte line LO2 cells dependent on NKP30 and B7-H6 interaction. Furthermore, NK-92 cells exhibited elevated IL-32 expression when stimulated with anti-NKP30 antibodies or when co-cultured with Huh7 cells. IL-32 can induce the apoptosis of Huh7 cells in a dose-dependent manner.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that NKP30-B7-H6 interaction can aggravate hepatocyte damage, probably through up-regulation of IL-32 expression in HBV-ACLF.     

Blockade of TRAIL pathway ameliorates HBV-induced hepatocyte apoptosis in an acute hepatitis model

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) may play important roles during hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. In this study, we used a recombinant human soluble death receptor 5 (sDR5) to explore its effect in a mouse model of HBV-induced acute hepatitis. By measuring blood transaminase activity and hepatocyte apoptosis, we found that sDR5 could alleviate liver damage by blocking TRAIL-induced apoptosis of HBV-transfected hepatocytes. sDR5 injection at 16 mg/kg 24h before HBV transfection was the most effective. Additionally, we showed that sDR5 was equally effective in protecting liver injury as the Stronger Neo-Minophagen C (SNMC), a commonly used drug for patients with liver diseases. Thus, sDR5 represents a potential novel therapeutic drug for patients with fulminant hepatitis.     

Translocation of Bax in rat hepatocytes cultured with ferric nitrilotriacetate

Hepatic fibrosis occurs after many years of iron overload in liver. An effective iron deposition model induced by ferric nitrilotriacetate (FeNTA) in cultured rat hepatocytes was assumed. It has been shown that treatment of rat hepatocytes with FeNTA lead to oxidative stress and hepatocyte apoptosis. Hepatocyte apoptosis can promote liver fibrosis. The mechanisms of hepatocyte apoptosis induced by FeNTA have not yet been fully elucidated. The present study demonstrated that FeNTA-induced hepatocyte apoptosis was related to Bax translocation, cytochrome c release, and caspase-3 activation.     

Hepatitis B virus core protein inhibits TRAIL-induced apoptosis of hepatocytes by blocking DR5 expression

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) causes chronic hepatitis in hundreds of millions of people worldwide, which can eventually lead to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The molecular mechanisms underlying HBV persistence are not well understood. TRAIL, the TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand, has recently been implicated in hepatocyte death during HBV infection. We report here that the HBV core protein (HBc) is a potent inhibitor of TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Overexpressing HBc significantly decreased TRAIL-induced apoptosis of human hepatoma cells, whereas knocking-down HBc expression in hepatoma cells transfected with HBV genome enhanced it. When present in the same cell, HBc blocked the pro-apoptotic effect of the HBV X protein (HBx). The resistance of HBc-expressing cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis was associated with a significant reduction in death receptor 5 (DR5) expression. Upon transfection, HBc significantly repressed the promoter activity of the human DR5 gene. Importantly, HBc gene transfer inhibited hepatocyte death in a mouse model of HBV-induced hepatitis; and in patients with chronic hepatitis, DR5 expression in the liver was significantly reduced. These results indicate that HBc may prevent hepatocytes from TRAIL-induced apoptosis by blocking DR5 expression, which in turn contributes to the development of chronic hepatitis and HCC. They also call into question the potential side effects of HBc-based vaccines.     

Mechanisms of liver injury: an overview

Liver cirrhosis, an end-result of a wide variety of the liver diseases, is a world wide health problem. Because of its unique organ system, i.e., portal blood supply, bile formation and enterohepatic circulation, drug metabolism system, and sinusoidal lining cells such as Kupffer, endothelial and stellate cells, the liver is a target of a variety of hepatotoxic insults. Current data suggest that hepatocyte apoptosis is an essential feature contributing to liver injury in a wide range of acute and chronic liver diseases. With an improved understanding of the pathophysiological role of apoptosis in liver diseases, we are now entering an era where regulation of liver cell apoptosis is becoming a therapeutic possibility. Inhibition of hepatocyte apoptosis using a variety of different strategies may be therapeutically beneficial in liver injuries, such as alcoholic hepatitis, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), viral hepatitis, and cholestatic liver diseases. Considering the link between hepatocyte apoptosis and liver fibrosis, inhibition of hepatocyte apoptosis may also be an anti-fibrotic therapeutic strategy. Moreover, selective induction of apoptosis of activated stellate cells would be a unique approach to induce the resolution the phase of liver fibrosis. These concepts merit further clinical and basic investigation.